New Shooting Fuels Standoff In Minnesota

By Jack Morphet , Brenna T. Smith and Jack Gillum

The fatal weekend shooting of a second person in Minneapolis this year by immigration agents escalated an already tense battle between state and U.S. officials over federal lawenforcement operations that have turned deadly.

The Saturday morning killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, like the one earlier this month of Renee Good, 37, was captured on video from witnesses. Videos shared across social media of the moments before Saturday’s shooting show Pretti filming federal officers and then being confronted by them.

Agents appeared to spray a chemical irritant at Pretti, who was an intensive-care nurse, and another person. In the moments before shots were fired, Pretti was on the ground, surrounded by multiple agents.

Federal agents claimed Pretti forced their hand, alleging he “violently resisted” disarmament until the officers fired “defensive shots.”

The video footage appears to tell a different story. A frameby- frame review by The Wall Street Journal shows a federal officer pulling a handgun away from Pretti. Less than a second later, an agent fires several rounds. Pretti died at the scene.

In a U.S. District Court filing

late Saturday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said federal officers had made “astonishing” missteps in the aftermath of the U.S. Border Patrol officer’s fatal shooting of Pretti. Ellison, a Democrat, said on Sunday he was worried evidence would be lost in the investigation.

“I am deeply concerned about the preservation of evidence, which is why we went to court last night,” Ellison said.

Late Saturday, Judge Eric Tostrud issued a temporary order blocking the Trump administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to Pretti’s death. A hearing is scheduled for Monday in Minnesota federal court.

Local authorities have been blocked from investigating the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin on Sunday defended the actions of immigration agents, saying they were attacked, and called claims that evidence was destroyed “a ridiculous attempt to divide the American people.”

Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, for his part, on Sunday again accused Pretti of provoking the confrontation that led to his fatal shooting.

“This individual was on that scene several minutes before that shooting, interfering with a lawful, legal, ethical law enforcement operation,” Bovino said, reiterating comments he made earlier in the day.

At the same time, Bovino said he has “not concluded anything” about whether the shooting was justified. Several groups issued statements on Sunday calling for calm. The International Association of Chiefs of Police called on the White House to convene federal, state and local law enforcement leaders to discuss a “constructive path forward” following tensions between federal immigration officials in Minnesota and state and local leaders there.

Meanwhile, more than 60 leaders of Minnesota-based companies and sports teams signed a letter calling on federal, state and local officials to work together.

“The recent challenges facing our state have created widespread disruption and tragic loss of life,” the letter said. They said they wanted tensions to be de-escalated in the state.

The tensions could reverberate in Washington. Senate Democrats signaled on Saturday that they would be willing to shut down much of the government rather than vote for a package that includes funds for immigration enforcement, following the latest deadly shooting in Minneapolis.

“What’s happening in Minnesota is appalling—and unacceptable in any American city,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

He said the DHS bill “is woefully inadequate” to rein in abuses by immigration officials.

After Saturday’s shooting, federal agents asked Minneapolis Police Department officers to leave the crime scene, according to court documents. The local police remained to protect the scene under orders from their watch commander.

Federal agents later blocked Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators from examining the scene, even though investigators had a warrant signed by Minnesota District Court Judge Gina Brandt, according to the bureau.

“Obtaining a warrant to access a public space is unusual. But we thought it was necessary given the federal authorities’ refusal to allow us access,” Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said in a court filing.

It was the first time Evans could recall state investigators with jurisdiction over a crime scene being denied access by federal officers.

When federal agents left, local and state police who stayed to secure the crime scene were overrun by protesters, Evans said, which the lawsuit alleged likely spoiled evidence.

Homeland Security, not the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is conducting the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, Secretary Kristi Noem said.

When asked whether Homeland Security would work with local law enforcement, Noem said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz couldn’t be trusted and accused the state of releasing dangerous criminals from prison onto the streets rather than handing them over to ICE.

Saturday evening, the Minnesota Department of Corrections accused Noem of falsely saying the state doesn’t cooperate with ICE.

The agency said there had been “repeated false or misleading claims by DHS about DOC custody, detainers, and cooperation.” The Department of Corrections said it routinely works with ICE and noted that a top ICE official had acknowledged that publicly this past week.

Marcos Charles, acting head of ICE enforcement and removal operations, on Thursday said Minnesota’s Department of Corrections honors federal detainers.

“We pick up individuals from the state,” Charles told reporters, when asked about the claims. “When the state gets them and those detainers are lodged against the state, we get those bodies.”

Charles said the issue is with county jails—which vary in their practices and are typically managed by local sheriffs. He said ICE has been “opening up dialogue” with the counties on the matter.